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Article: Ethan Allen goes global: one of the best-known names in the furniture industry is reshaping itself not only to be more competitive domestically but to vie for world markets.
- Article from:
- Wood & Wood Products
- Article date:
- January 1, 2002
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 Vance Publishing Corp. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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After nearly 20 years as an American furniture icon, Ethan Allen Interiors Inc. is on the verge of a profound transformation.
Long a company that has taken pride in its U.S.-based vertical integration -- the company owns 18 factories and three sawmills that supply its 312-and-counting retail stores -- Ethan Allen intends to serve its stores with an increasing percentage of products procured from third-party overseas factories.
Beyond looking abroad for new supply sources, the company is also looking overseas for new retail customers as well. Last year Chairman and CEO M. Farooq Kathwari formally laid the groundwork for a global expansion intended to ...